Average power rating of opponents played: BUFFALO 22.6, PITTSBURGH 19.8

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

BUFFALO - Season Results

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Team Stats

Opp Stats

Date

Opponent

Score

SU

Line

ATS

Tot.

O/U

Rushing

Passing

TO

Rushing

Passing

TO

9/15/2013

CAROLINA

24-23

W

3.5

W

43.5

O

33-149

27-39-287

2

32-125

21-38-183

1

9/22/2013

@ NY JETS

20-27

L

2.5

L

40.5

O

25-120

19-42-208

0

41-182

16-29-331

2

9/29/2013

BALTIMORE

23-20

W

3.5

W

45

U

55-203

10-22-147

3

9-24

25-50-321

5

10/3/2013

@ CLEVELAND

24-37

L

3.5

L

41

O

31-155

19-40-188

1

32-91

15-28-199

0

10/13/2013

CINCINNATI

24-27

L

5.5

W

41

O

32-130

19-32-192

1

41-165

26-40-318

1

10/20/2013

@ MIAMI

23-21

W

5.5

W

44

P

30-90

21-32-178

1

25-120

19-37-173

3

10/27/2013

@ NEW ORLEANS

17-35

L

10

L

48

O

25-88

22-39-211

3

26-77

26-34-309

0

11/3/2013

KANSAS CITY

13-23

L

4.5

L

41

U

38-241

18-39-229

3

23-95

19-29-115

0

11/10/2013

@ PITTSBURGH

11/17/2013

NY JETS

12/1/2013

*ATLANTA

12/8/2013

@ TAMPA BAY

PITTSBURGH - Season Results

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Team Stats

Opp Stats

Date

Opponent

Score

SU

Line

ATS

Tot.

O/U

Rushing

Passing

TO

Rushing

Passing

TO

9/16/2013

@ CINCINNATI

10-20

L

6.5

L

40

U

16-44

20-37-234

2

34-127

25-45-280

0

9/22/2013

CHICAGO

23-40

L

2

L

40.5

O

21-80

26-41-379

5

28-107

20-30-151

0

9/29/2013

*MINNESOTA

27-34

L

-3

L

41.5

O

21-77

36-51-357

2

25-145

16-25-248

0

10/13/2013

@ NY JETS

19-6

W

-1.5

W

40.5

U

26-73

24-31-255

0

20-83

19-34-184

2

10/20/2013

BALTIMORE

19-16

W

-2.5

W

40.5

U

29-141

17-23-145

1

26-82

24-34-205

0

10/27/2013

@ OAKLAND

18-21

L

-2.5

L

40

U

19-35

29-45-241

2

38-197

10-19-82

3

11/3/2013

@ NEW ENGLAND

31-55

L

5.5

L

42.5

O

20-108

28-48-371

3

35-197

23-33-413

1

11/10/2013

BUFFALO

11/17/2013

DETROIT

11/24/2013

@ CLEVELAND

11/28/2013

@ BALTIMORE

12/8/2013

MIAMI

KEY GAME INFORMATION

BUFFALO: Don't expect major changes to the running game under new head coach Doug Marrone's regime. O-Line coach Pat Morris has leaned toward zone blocking over his career. The Bills should continue to rely on a lot of inside zone plays, which were highly effective last year. They'll continue to utilize both of their talented backs, with C.J. Spiller getting the bulk of the work over Fred Jackson. Spiller has become more of a north-south runner, making him much more effective. They'll also bring back a fullback sometimes.
Marrone and new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett were together at Syracuse, where they ran a tempo passing game that used a lot of no-huddle and pistol formations. If EJ Manuel isn't ready Week 1, Kevin Kolb will start and should get to make a lot of decisions pre-snap. Stevie Johnson is the clear-cut No. 1 receiver, and the kind of cerebral, instinctive player who should thrive in this offense. Running backs are also expected to be featured much more heavily than in recent seasons. Spiller showed an ability to pick up tough yards last year and will typically get the first crack near the goal line.
The Bills surrendered 35+ points six times last year, but new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, the Jets DC in 2012, will try to capitalize on more forced turnovers than Dave Wannstedt's defense did last year (21 takeaways, T-9th-fewest in NFL). Pettine was criticized for running too conservative of a defense in New York, but has rolled out a hybrid 3-4 scheme in Buffalo. He has plenty of pass rushers in DEs Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, and the team also has two new starting OLBs in Manny Lawson and Jerry Hughes. The quality secondary could miss hard-hitting S George Wilson, but Buffalo gets to face six opponents with bottom-6 scoring offenses from last season.

PITTSBURGH: The Steelers remained pass-heavy under offensive coordinator Todd Haley last year, running out of a lot of spread looks. They essentially use the pass to set up the run, with the backs running almost exclusively between the tackles. They'll rotate backs again this year, with rookie Le'Veon Bell likely to emerge as a lead back. Jonathan Dwyer is less versatile than Bell and could be on his way out of Pittsburgh. Isaac Redman and LaRod Stephens-Howling figure to split passing-down duties in the early going, though Stephens-Howling could end up taking the role full-time at some point.
Haley brought more spread looks to Pittsburgh's offense. They go no-huddle frequently, with Ben Roethlisberger trusted to run the offense. Antonio Brown is now their undisputed No. 1 receiver, with the ability to be used deep or as a catch-and-run guy. Emmanuel Sanders is more of a possession receiver and will likely share No. 2 targets with TE Heath Miller. Jerricho Cotchery should see solid playing time as their slot guy, and while rookie Markus Wheaton will be eased in, he should end up seeing significant snaps as their best deep threat. Only the Saints skewed more pass-heavy in goal-to-go situations than Pittsburgh (64.6% of snaps).
Despite a host of injuries in 2012, the Steelers still led the NFL in yardage defense (276 YPG) and passing defense (185 YPG), while finishing sixth in scoring defense (19.6 PPG). Rookie OLB Jarvis Jones makes the team younger and faster, as does CB Cortez Allen, 24, replacing the departed Keenan Lewis. Pittsburgh still has plenty of productive veterans though, like 32-year-old S Troy Polamalu and DE Brett Keisel, 34. Per usual, the team's linebackers are relentless, with OLB LaMarr Woodley and ILB Lawrence Timmons.

While Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is looking for something to turn around his team's disappointing season, the Buffalo Bills hope rookie quarterback EJ Manuel is healthy enough to help them get back on track.

Both teams will be trying to avoid a third straight defeat when the Steelers look to continue their dominance over the visiting Bills on Sunday.

Since reaching 6-3 with a 16-13 overtime win over Kansas City on Nov. 12, Pittsburgh (2-6) has lost 11 of 15. The Steelers might have bottomed out last Sunday when they were outscored 31-7 down the stretch of a 55-31 loss at New England.

New England's point total was the highest allowed by the Steelers in their storied history.

"I think we're all angry and disappointed," said Ben Roethlisberger, who passed for 400 yards and four touchdowns but committed three turnovers. "That's probably collectively what's in this locker room."

Tomlin is not opposed to making lineup changes, and already benched receiver Antonio Brown for a series last week after a blown assignment led to an interception. The Steelers did sign second-year cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke this week, but more as insurance if Ike Taylor is unable to play because of a concussion suffered last Sunday.

"You re-evaluate everything," Tomlin said. "You have to after a performance like (last weekend) and we will. It doesn't necessarily mean we will change or change for the sake of changing, but we will look at every aspect of what we are doing and who we are doing it with."

Veteran safeties Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark were often victimized by Tom Brady, who threw for 432 yards and four touchdowns. Tomlin, however, expects to stick with both considering Pittsburgh ranks fourth in the league with 210.0 passing yards allowed per game.

"I've got a great deal of confidence in them and their abilities to play and play winning football for us," he said.

Pittsburgh, however, is 31st in rush defense with an average of 131.3 yards after yielding 197 apiece to Oakland and New England in the last two weeks.

Stopping the run may not prove any easier against Buffalo (3-6), which ranks seventh with 145.8 yards per game on the ground after running for a season-high 241 in a 23-13 loss to Kansas City last week. C.J. Spiller gained 116 yards on 12 carries and Fred Jackson added 77 on 16 attempts.

Buffalo outgained Kansas City 470-210, but the undefeated Chiefs scored twice on defense. Bills rookie Jeff Tuel was picked off by Sean Smith, who returned it 100 yards for a touchdown that tied the game in the third quarter. Tamba Hali then returned receiver T.J. Graham's fumble 11 yards for a score to give the Chiefs a 20-13 lead early in the fourth.

The Bills have committed three turnovers in each of the last two games after totaling three in the previous three contests.

Buffalo's offense might run smoother under Manuel, who appears ready to start Sunday after missing four weeks with a sprained right knee. Backup Thad Lewis, 1-2 as a starter this season, is also apparently ready to return after missing last week with bruised ribs.

Manuel, the first-round pick who is seen as the team's future, has completed 56.7 percent of his passes with five TDs and three interceptions while going 2-3.

"Definitely looking forward to getting into practice full course and taking as many reps as coach allows me to get," Manuel said.

Inexperience at quarterback is a big reason why the Bills rank last in the NFL with a 55.4 completion percentage. Their three QBs have been sacked 28 times.

"I think any time you have inconsistency back there it's going to make it tough, or adverse," Jackson said. "You want to be consistent. You want to have somebody back there that's steady throughout the season. And that helps you grow as an offense. Not having that I think it definitely has played a role in us having some ups and downs."

Whoever is under center might not have receivers Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin as options after both were injured last Sunday.

Buffalo has dropped four straight and eight of nine to the Steelers, including playoffs. The Bills, who last played in Pittsburgh in 2007, are 2-9 there and have been outscored 136-40 during a five-game regular-season and playoff road skid in the series.

Jackson had a 65-yard touchdown reception, but Pittsburgh's Shaun Suisham kicked four field goals in a 19-16 overtime win in the latest meeting Nov. 28, 2010.